Advertising device.



O. S. THAL. ADVERTISING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1913.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFToE- OTTO S. THAL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA ADVERTISING DEVICE,

Specification 0! Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8,1914.

Application filed August 20, 1913. Serial No. 785,744.

To all'whom it may concern: I

lie it known that 1,0111) S. THAI, a citizen of the United Sta-tes,'residing in'the city and county of San. Francisco and State Of California, have invented new'and useful Improvements in Advertising Devices, of which the followingis a' specification.

This invention relates to electrical apparatus, and particularly to an electrical novelty adapted for use as an advertising device. I v

The present invention comprises the combination of electricalelements in such 00- ordinatiou and with such properties that part or member, that that'part of the conductors momentarily contacting with the movable transmitting device or connection becomes heated, due to the resistance of flow to the electrical current, and causes the parallel or concentric conductors which may be termed rails to'ex'pand. This forms in their edges convex or inclined ridges with the result that when the movable connection is spherical or cylindrical it willroll away from the momentarily expanded and convex edges of the conductors or rails. Since the movable member forms the circuit closer be.- tween the main conductors or rails, it is manifest that the movement of the circuit closing device constantly changes the portions of the edges of the rails where the resistance is greatest, and this constant change of position of the resistance portions of the rails results in theconstnnt movement of the movable circuit closer along the rails upon which it rests.

This apparatus 1 have utilized in practice and in the present case disclose it'as embodied in an advertising novelty, with the object in view of providing an apparatus which to the uninformed presents a rather interesting and puzzling phenomenon because of the fact that the electrical connections are scaled.

cnit closer over the edges of the'rails, a very effective device is provided for attracting and holding theattentionlof the-general public, or those to whom the device maybe exhibited, and this interest may betakcn ad vantage of by providing elements of an advertising character in conjunction with the apparatus. 1

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which i Figure 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment or configuration of the railsand indicating the electrical connections. F-ig. 2 is a cross section through one-setof rails. Fig. 3 is a cross section through ay'sct of rails, with a-rcranlc truckmovable thcrcon Sinccno apparent means are provldcdfor propellingthe movable, cir- Fig. 4. illustrates diagrammaticallyfi theexpension of a portion of an edge of one of the rails when energized. 1

' A simple embodiment-of my. inventionis' illustrated as comprising concentric rails 2.

and 3 which,prcferably, have-high electrical resistance and are indicated as of combe arranged horizontallyor "vertically and are insulated from each other a tie conncction 4. b'ince the rails 2 and 3 are preferably of a high resistance nature they may be energized by having suitably attached thereto liettrr conductors, such as copper rings 5, sealed in the insulating ring and spacer the ropper rings being electrically connected to a source of current, as a battery G. The electrical circuit through the parallel or concentric rails, as the case may be, is completed bv mounting on the rails a 4 I h I r movable circuit close-r, as i, Iigs. 1 and 2,

or which may be In the nature of a cylinder or truck with wheels 3, Fig. 3, coni'iected by a crank shaft 9.

8 5 I paratively thin sheets or strips which may Fig. 4, from which the rolling unstable circu'it-closing member 7 will naturally move awayin one direction or the other which will be determined by the direction of'motion which it automatically takes or may be given.

By having the rail members 2 and 3 connected to a source of electrical current and then by adjusting the circuit closer 7 upon the edges of the rails and thus closing the circuit, the heat generated in the rails at the points of contact with the rolling circuit closer will expand the edges of the rails. As the ball or rolling circuit closer moves down the inclined surfaces of the expanded portions the point of contact, as between the circuit closer and the rails, is automatically changed and the zone of heat generated by the resistance automatically follows along the rails in the line or direction of movement of the circuit closer 7; the latter being then automatically propelled along without any apparent application of force.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a circuit closer which consists of the wheels 8 connected by a crank-shaft 9, and the rotary movement of the crank-shaft may be utilized to impart motion to a reciprocating device 9' on the circuit closer, thus increasing the interest of the apparatus.

It is understood that I may arrange the parallel or concentric conductin rails 2 and 3 in any given or desired 00 guration so that they may be made in symbolical form or may be arranged in the form of letters or geometrical figures. In Fi 11 have shown one set of tracks 2 and 3 in circular form,

and in these are disposed other sets of tracks 11 which are appropriately electrically connected with the outermost tracks 2-3 and the battery 6. Upon the sets of tracks 11 there may be disposed res ective circuit closing devices 7 which may e of suitable construction and variously colored or lettered as will serve the ends in view.

The utility of the apparatus as an advertisin device can be further enhanced by providing such devices as will be operable by the moving circuit closer 7, such, for instance, consisting in rocker shafts 12 each having a portion 13 lying in thepath of its respective circuit closer 7, whereby, upon contact therewith, the rocker shafts will be actuated and thus lift or expose an advertising disk or sign 13.

" If desired, any electrical device 20 may be connected in series, or otherwise, the circuit of which would be closed when the part 7 traverses its connection at the track.

Having thus described my invention, what I'claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An advertising device comprising a ductors when the circuit is closed across the track by said moving means.

2. An advertising device comprising a substantially horizontal track consisting of electrical conductors, a source of electrical supply connected to said conductors, a means for closing/the circuit between the conductors comprising a device engageable with the edges of the conductors and movable therealoifg automatically by the proessive expansion of the edges of the con c uctors when the circuit is closed across the track by said movin means, and mechanical devices adapted to e actuated by said device during its movement. I

3. An advertising device comprising a substantially horizontal track consisting of electrical conductors, a .source of electrical supply connected to said conductors, a

means for closing' the circuit between the conductors comprising a device engageable with the edges of the conductors and movable therealong automatically by the progressive expansion of the edges of the conductors when the circuit is closed across the track by said moving means, and electrical devices controlled by said device during its movement. a

4. An advertisin device including substantially horizonta spaced conducting elements having connection with a source of electrical supply, and means on said clements for closing the circuit therebetween and movable therealong by the progressive expansion of the elements as the circuit is closed by said means.

5. An advertisin device including substantially horizonta spaced conducting elements having connection with a source of electrical supply, means on the elements forv closin the circuit therebetween and movable t erealong by the progressive expan- OTTO s. THAL.

' Witnesses:

'IRWIN SINNn'rr, W. W. Humor. 

